First session since buying the new gear and first session using any kind of Mount/Tracker. Massive upgrade from the DSLR/Tripod method I was doing before. The only thing from the original setup is the Canon T7i. Overall I’m very happy with the results. This was a huge learning experience. I had bought the gear at the start of December so naturally I had cloudy nights for the entire duration of my 3 week vacation. Apologies to any other Astrophotography’s in my area. As soon as my vacation ended, it was back to work and thus the clear skies showed themselves once again. I only just JUST found the time to go out to my parents place where I think they have a Bortle 2-3 skies to go through this whole thing with my dad to show him my hobby. It was a little cloudy at first, then hazy for the majority of the session.

Polar Alignment was the hardest part, even doing the entire thing via the ASIAIR Plus. I think it took me 17 minutes? Wasn’t sure what was up and what was down, what went right or left. My brain had the hardest time trying to figure it out. Finally managed to get it down to 4-5 Arc Seconds and I was done. “Good enough. Not gonna deal with it anymore.” Figured out just how far out the guide camera had to be away from the guidescope to see any stars, got them as small as possible and got that going too. Made sure dithering was set. First 60 second exposure looked great but I noticed the error had risen to 5-10 and had trouble settling between shots and dithering. Not sure what could have caused that.

All that to say, I had a great time sharing this hobby with my father. He’s always been into “Space Things” since he saw the Moon Landing live on TV as a kid when he was 11-12ish. When I was a kid, we would go outside to look at meteor showers and lunar events. He’d point out constellations to me through the events and its some of my fondest memories. Getting to have this experience with him tonight will be something I will remember for a long time.

When the ASIAIR plate solved and I put it on target with what I wanted to see, I set the first 60 second exposure and we waited (in the freezing cold field) as it loaded to my phone. When the Nebula came into view he was blown away. He had no idea that the “Stars in Orion’s Sword” contained nebulosity. “Wow… Wait, do that’s what we’re looking at up there-…. That the belt? Oh the sword…?! Wooow…”Later that night I slewed the mount to Andromeda for 1 60 second exposure and had another, just as entertaining, experience as I explained what we were looking at and fun little facts about it here and there. This was well worth the money spent just for these experiences alone.
Sorry if this all sound jumbled. I haven’t slept in-… 23 hours but I have to get this all out there.